Combined spark-timer and oil-pump



J. McCLELLAND.

COMBINED SPARK TIMER AND OIL PUMP.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 16. 1920.

1 ,344,953 Patented June 29, 1920.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Q 6 IIIE- 24 /7 2: 22 Ira/111101; figljatldjtj fihn maazm ,8 GM fly I J. McCLELLAND. COMBINED SPARK TIMER AND OIL PUMP.

APPLICATION men MAR. 16. 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Patented J uno 29, 1920.

hull

UNITED STATES JOHN MOCLELLAND, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

COMBINED SPARK-TIMER AND OIL-PUMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 29, 1920.

Application filed March 16, 1920. Serial No. 366,446.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN MGCLELLAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Spark-Timers and Oil-Pumps, of

which the following is a specification.

One object of my invention is to provide an improved device which will operate to successively'cause ignition of the respective charges in the cylinders of an internal combustion engine and will also operate as a pump for supplying and circulating oil to any of the working parts of the engine or machine to which it is attached.

Another object is to so construct the device of my invention that it will include means of simple and durable construction which can be easily operated to properly advance the spark.

These objects, and other advantageous ends which will be described hereinafter, I attain in the following manner, reference bein had to the accompanying drawings in wliich Figure 1 is a top plan View of my improved device,

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 2,

'Fig. 1 is a transverse section taken on the line 41- 1 of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3. j

Referring to the drawings, 6 represents a supporting structure which, for example, may be a portion of the case of an internal combustion engine through which the cam shaft 7 extends. A cylindrical drum 8 is secured to the supportin structure 6 in any suitable manner. The rum 8 includes. a rear circular plate 9 and a front circular plate 10; said plates having alined holes 11 and 12 eccentric to the axis of said cylindrical drum through which the cam shaft 7 extends as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The plates 9 and 10 may be made of metal and on their inner surfaces are annularly undercut as shownat 13 and in these undercut portions, rings 14. and 15 of electrically nonconducting material are inserted. A metallic band 16 is interposed between the rings 14 and 15 and bolts 16 extend through the plates 9 and 10 and band 16 to hold the parts in position as clearly shown in Fig. 5. The band 16, at spaced distances apart, is recessed to provide "cavities 17 which extend inwardly from its inner surfaces 18; said cavities tapering outwardly and stopping short of the outer surface of the band to provide sockets in which linings 19 of electrically non-conducting material are inserted. Metallic contact plates 20 are fitted within the linings 19 and have screw threaded stems 21 which project outwardly through holes 22 in said band which are in respective radial alinement with the cavities 17. Insulating nipples 23 fit within the holes 22 and thereby insulate the stems 21 from the band 16. The side edges of the plates 20 abut the respective rings 14 and 15 and in this manner the plates 20 with their stems 21 are electrically insulated from all parts of the drum 8 and the plates are made wedge shape tapering outwardly toward their stems so that by providing nuts 24: on said stems, the bolts can be drawn tightly into their insulated sockets and so that the inner surfaces 25 of the contact plates 20 are flush with the'inner surface 18 of the band 16. In the present instance there are four contact plates 20 illustrated for use in a four cylinder internal combustion engine and wires can be attached to the stems 21 by means of binding nuts 26 and these wires can be led to the respective spark plugs of the engine cylinders; it being noted that the cylinders are grounded in common connection with the drum and parts of the engine frame in the usual manner of forming electric ignition connections of this type.

A metallic brush carrier in the form of a disk 27 has an axial circular bore or hole 28 through which extends a' sleeve 29; said sleeve entering said drum through the hole 12 in the front plate 10 and this sleeve forms a bearing for the cam shaft 7. The cam shaft 7 has a pin or other projection 30 projecting therefrom and this pin 30 fits Within a helical slot 31 in the sleeve 29 as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The sleeve 29 has a key or. pin 32 which fits within a common groove 33 in the disk 27; said common groove extending parallel with the axis of the disk and rotatably locks the sleeve 29 to the disk 27 but permits the sleeve to be moved lengthwise. With the above construction it will be understood that the disk 27 fits eccentrically within the drum 8 and that the disk is of less external diameter than the internal diameter of the band 16. The disk 27 has two cavities 3% and extending therein at positions diametrically opposite and these cavities have parallel" side holes 36 providing slideways for two brushes 3? and 38. The brush 38 is made entirely of me al while the brush 3? has its outer end provided with a cap or terminal portion 39 of material which is a non-con ductor of electricity. Springs 40 are positioned within each of the cavities 34: and 35 and serve to push the brushes 3? and 38' outwardly so their outer ends, during the rotation of the disk 27 in a manner hereinafter described, will contact with the inner surface 18 of'the band 16 and the inner surfaces 25 of the contact plates 20. It will be noted that by arranging the disk 27 eccentrically within the drum that the peripheral surface Q1 of said disk will be closer to the inner surface 18 at one place than it will be at another place for example the top portion of the surface 18 of the band is closerto the top portion of the surface 41 of the disk 27 than the bottom part of the surface 18 of the band is to the bottom part of the surface 41 of the disk as clearly shown in Fig. 3. Thus in cross section the space between the disk and the band is greatest adjacent the bottoms of the disk from a narrow portion of the space between the disk and the inner surface of'the band and'adjacent parts and, as illustrated, the

inlet oil pipe -12 leads into a wide part of said space between the disk and the drum as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

During the rotation of the cam shaft, 7, the disk 27 will be rotated through the medium of the pin 30, sleeve 29 and pin 32, for example in the direction of the arrow {13 shown in Fig. 3, and the brush 38 will successively contact with the plates 20 to complete electric circuits to the spark plugs in the usual manner of a spark timer of this general type. The brush 3'? however, due to the fact that it has the non-conducting cap or terminal piece 39 thereon, will not form any electrical connections but in view of the construction, the brushes 3'? and 38 will act as battles or partitions for dividing the space between the disk and the drum in the two parts and during rotation of the disk these brushes will serve to cause the oil to be forced out of the pipe 43 and oil to be drawn into said space through the pipe 12; it being noted that the brushes 37 and 38 will move into and out of their cavities during the rotation'ofthe-disk. For example, consideringthe device in a position shown in Fig-:3 and also considering that theoilpipes 12 and a3 are joined at their opposite ends to some bearings or oil chambers, the brushes 37 and 88 divide the space 1 1 into two parts 45 and 46 the brush 37 extending through the widest part of the space 14 while the brush 38 extends through the narrowest partof said space 4A. During the rotation of the disk in the direction of'the arrow as the oil withinthe widest part, or bottom portion of the space 46, will be forced upwardly into a narrow portion of said space and a part of this oil will pass'out of the pipe a3. At the same time the brush 3? will push the oilin'the space 45 so that its greatest volume will follow the bru sl1"38 and thus create a suction'in' the pipe Qso that the oil will be taken in through the pipe a2 and passed outwardly through the pipe as and thereby can be pumped'or circulated to any hearings or other'parts which need lubrication.

In order to provide for an advance of the spark with my improved device I groove the outer end of the sleeve 29' as shown at't? and provide a hood or cover etS through which extends a rotatablepost- 19 which has a yoke 50 thereon providing extensions 51 which fit within the groove -17 and this post 19 is extended to the outside of' the cover 458 and is provided with an arm 52 which may be attached to any suitable means such for example as usually employed to advance a spark in connection with means of a spark timer; it being'notedthat if the arm 52 is swung the post as will be rocked to'cause the yoke 50to move the sleeve 29 lengthwise so as" topartially rotate the sleeve relatively to the cam shaft 7 and thereby change the relative position of the sparking elements.

In addition to the oil pumping or circulating feature ofmy present invention it will be noted that while'the oil is in the drum it will-serve to thoroughly lubricate the' bearings and parts such for example as the brushes and contacting. portion of the disk with the drumand thereby prevent-said parts from quickly wearing.

lVhile I have described my invention as taking a particular form, it will be understood-that the various parts of mylinvention may be changed without departing from the spirit thereof, and hencel do not limit myself to theprecise construction set forth, but consider that I am at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly come withinthe scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. A device of the character described including a drum; a brush carrier rotatably mounted. within the drum eccentrically to the inner surface thereof; electric contact members within said drum and brushes movablv connected to said carrier and having portions for engagement with the inner surface of said drum beyond said carrier; and inlet and outlet oil pipes communicating with the space between said carrier and said portions of the inside of said drum whereby during relative rotation between said drum and carrier, said brushes will serve to force oil out of said space through one of said pipes and take oil into said space through the other of said pipes, at least one of said brushes being successively operative to form electrical connections between said carrier and said contact members; substantially as described.

2. A device of the character described including a drum having contact members spaced apart; a brush carrier rotatably mounted within said drum eccentrically to the axis thereof; brushes on said carrier having portions for engagement with the inner surface of said drum beyond said carrier, said portions of the brushes being spaced apart; and inlet and outlet oil pipes communicating with the space between said carrier and said portions of the inside of said drum whereby during relative rotation between said drum and carrier, said brushes will serve to force oil out of said space through one of said pipes and take oil into said space through the other of said pipes, at least one of said brushes being successively operative to form electrical connections between said carrier and'said contact members; substantially as described.

3. A device of the character described in cluding a drum; a disk rotatably mounted eccentrically within said drum, said disk having opposed cavities extending inwardly from its peripheral edge; brushes slidably mounted within said cavities; springs for sliding said brushes outwardly within said cavities so as to cause them to engage the portion of said drum beyond said disk whereby the space beyond said disk within the drum is divided into sections; an oil inlet pipe leading to a wide part of said space; and an oil outlet pipe leading to a narrow part of said space whereby during rotation of the disk the brushes will operate to force oil out of said space through said outlet pipe and take oil into said spacethrough said inlet pipe; substantially as described.

l. A device of the character described including a drum having contact members spaced apart; a disk rotatably mounted eccentrically within said drum, said disk having opposed cavities extending inwardly from its peripheral edge; brushes slidably mounted within said cavities; springs for sliding said brushes outwardly within said cavities so as to cause them to engage the portion of said drum beyond said disk whereby the space beyond said disk within the drum is divided into sections; an oil inlet pipe leading to a wide part of said space; an oil outlet pipe leading to a nar row part of said space whereby during rotation of the disk the brushes will operate to force oil out of said space through said outlet pipe and take oil into said space;

through said inlet pipe; and contact me1nhers spaced apart within said drum, at least one of said brushes being operative to com plete electric connection between said con tact members and the disk during rotation of the latter; substantially as described.

5. A device of the character described including a drum; a brush carrier having a hole therein and a groove extending in the direction of the axis thereof; a shaft having a projection thereon; a sleeve having a helical slot into which said projection extends and a key slidably fitting within said groove in the brush carrier; and means for moving said sleeve lengthwise whereby said projection of the shaft will cause a partial rotatable movement thereto which will be imparted'to said brush carrier through the medium of said key; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' JOHN McCLELLAND.

Witnesses:

CHAs. E. Por'rs, ANNA BENTON. 

